Chapter 1 An Unfamiliar Era
"Hey, wake up... She's not dead, is she? Why don't you go check her breathing?"
"You Qin Ji, you're just encouraging me to do such filthy things, I won't do it."
“I heard that the other day the Prefect brought back a group of Hu women from the Governor of Beijun. Those Hu women are beautiful, with fair skin, and their clothing is different from that of the Central Plains. This woman matches all of them. Could she be a Hu woman?”
"Most likely not. I've seen a few Hu women from afar, and their hair wasn't pure black. Never mind, whether she's a Hu woman or not, let's just ignore her. The cleaning and tidying up of the manor were in full swing a few days ago, so it seems a distinguished guest is on the way. The distinguished guest may have already arrived. This woman was probably played to death by a nobleman and then thrown out at will. She's in poor health; it's just that she's unlucky."
Qin Ji looked down at the woman lying on the edge of the pool, half of her body submerged in the water, and remained silent for a long time.
Her thick, black hair was loose and fell down, obscuring most of her face, leaving only a glimpse of her beautiful, flowing jawline. She lay face down on the edge of the pool, her dark hair spread out, and the hem of her ankle-length skirt was lifted by the water, revealing a section of her well-proportioned, fair calves.
She stood there motionless, like the most beautiful lotus blooming by the pond.
The dancer raised her eyes. "Let's go. We don't need to worry about this beautiful corpse. Someone will probably take care of it later."
In this day and age, even commoners with independent household registration are as worthless as weeds, let alone concubines who can be given to each other.
The VIP guest just played with a woman until she died; once she's dead, that's it.
"Manager Sun has repeatedly emphasized recently that we must not slack off in our skills, otherwise we will suffer the consequences. Judging from his attitude, I reckon the guests are not ordinary."
"Our Lord Jiang is a very important figure in Nankang County. For him to be so nervous, could it be that the guest he is visiting is of even higher status than him?"
"I'd prefer a really important person to come along, so that even a small reward slipping through their fingers would be enough for us to live on for a long time, not to mention if we were to be favored..."
The two dancers chatted and walked away, completely unaware of the "beautiful corpse" they had mistaken for by the pool. Suddenly, their fingers twitched.
Dai Li felt as if she were floating on clouds, until a sound turned into invisible threads that wrapped around her and dragged her down.
She heard someone talking.
At first, the sound seemed to come from afar, and was indistinct. Later, she gradually heard it clearly, but it still felt unreal.
Prefect? Hu woman? Nankang County?
As the voices faded into the distance, the threads binding consciousness were suddenly tugged, as if the soul had entered the body, and the ethereal, unreal feeling finally became tangible.
A chill ran through her, and Dai Li, struggling to open her eyes, instinctively climbed ashore from the pool and looked around.
The air was filled with the sounds of birdsong and distant voices. Before me stood rows of artificial hills, a riot of colorful flowers, and a large pond with a winding corridor and pavilions spanning a vast expanse of lotus blossoms.
Everything was completely unfamiliar, like a bizarre dream.
Dai Li clenched her fists, muttering incredulously, "How could this be..."
Since her husband's plane crash three years ago, she has been raising her son alone, taking him from kindergarten to primary school.
She remembered that the day her son had the accident, the sky was overcast and dark, as if it were about to fall at any moment, but it didn't rain at first. She led the little boy, who was wearing a red scarf, to the school bus, handed him over to the teacher, and promised the child, as always, that Mom would wait for him to come home.
Shortly after the school bus left, a torrential downpour began, the rain pounding as if it would pierce the earth. She felt a strange unease, but didn't think much of it, until—
News of the school bus crashing on the cross-river bridge has arrived.
The bright red scarf remained crimson, but its little owner would never return. When Dai Li jumped off the bridge where the school bus had crashed, she felt relieved and relaxed; she could finally reunite with Zhou Zhou in her bizarre dream.
It was too dark and the child got lost. Mom couldn't wait for you to come home, so she had to go find you herself.
Dai Li thought it was all over, but the strange surroundings and the real pain coming from her palms told her that this dreamlike experience was real.
Is there truly another world beneath the great river?
Or perhaps, after death, a person can take their memories and body to another place?
Dai Li had no answer.
But a voice, like a raging storm or a spring rain capable of healing all barrenness, brought endless hope:
If she can wake up here, can her children do the same? Perhaps her recurring strange dreams are some kind of premonition.
My son must be here!
This conjecture made Dai Li tremble with excitement. An indescribable energy supported her spine and pieced back her collapsing rationality.
A breeze blew by, and Dai Li sneezed, feeling the chill. The pool water was cold, and the cold started from her feet; she shivered as she got up. Her limbs were a little uncoordinated from the cold, but her throbbing head calmed down a bit.
Was the conversation she just heard a hallucination? If not, then her current situation is truly dire...
Hu Ji (a type of Chinese woman), skill, guest, important person.
They were not terrified when they saw the "corpse," but only felt surprised and unlucky. Was it because they were not afraid of death, or because they were used to it?
Dai Li felt it was more the latter.
This is a rather bad sign. Even a delicate geisha can look at a corpse without batting an eye, let alone guards or servants.
This may be a less than peaceful era.
Her shoes and the lower half of her skirt were wet. Dai Li wrung out the water from the hem of her skirt and stomped on it in place. It was the height of summer, and she was wearing a pair of bright green strappy flat sandals with leather soles. After being soaked in water for a long time, the sandals sizzled and sputtered when she stepped on them.
"I need to find a place to change my clothes, otherwise this outfit is too eye-catching." Dai Li looked down at herself.
The skirt was fine, reaching her ankles when it was down, but the top she wore was a short-sleeved top with a small collar, very modern, not even remotely related to the new Chinese style.
Dai Li recalled the direction from which the two female voices had faded away. They had mentioned that one should not slack off in one's skills, so they must have gone back to the courtyard to practice. She could head towards the women's quarters.
This back garden was very large, and the women often came here. On the way, Dai Li saw an apricot-colored handkerchief hanging on a potted plant, fluttering slightly in the wind.
Dai Li's eyes brightened slightly. She quickly stepped forward, took off the handkerchief, and then took two black hair clips from her hair to secure the handkerchief to her face.
It's not very sturdy, but it's better than nothing.
After finishing, Dai Li lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. Then she used her finger to scoop some mud and smeared it on her forehead. At first glance, she looked like a dancer who had accidentally fallen into the pool, dirtied her dress, and made herself look very disheveled and ashamed to be seen by others.
After a quick dressing, Dai Li continued walking forward, intending to head towards the women's quarters to change her clothes. Her plan was sound, but as Dai Li stepped out of what should have been a garden, she suddenly realized she had underestimated the size of the mansion.
Connected to the back garden was a large courtyard that seemed to be used as a transitional space. The courtyard had four gates: in addition to the archway she was standing in, there were crescent-shaped archways in the front, left, and right directions.
Dai Li frowned, ignoring the archway in front of her and only looking at the left and right sides. Normally, the garden is at the rear of the house, and if she went forward, she would likely reach the reception hall.
Left or right?
In ancient times, the distinction between left and right was not static. For example, the Western Han Dynasty revered the right, while the Qin and Eastern Han Dynasties revered the left. Moreover, left and right require a reference point, and this time, it lacked one.
Dai Li took a deep breath.
Whatever, go right.
With its pavilions, terraces, winding corridors, and soaring eaves, Dai Li was increasingly awestruck as she walked. This mansion was far more magnificent than she had imagined, suggesting that the owners were not only wealthy but also "noble."
Whether it was good luck or something important happened in the house, Dai Li didn't encounter anyone else as she walked through two long corridors.
That's actually a good thing.
After walking for a while, Dai Li arrived at a pavilion. The houses she had seen before were all magnificent, and this place was no exception. Dai Li couldn't tell whether this was the residence of the women.
A breeze blew by, and the hem of her skirt, clinging to her calves, lifted her winter coat. Dai Li pursed her lips and went inside.
Before entering, she had prepared herself to run into other people and had thought of what to say. However, to her surprise, the large and elegant courtyard was quiet, with only a few birds chirping.
Dai Li looked around again to confirm, "Really nobody's here? Something's not right..."
But now that things had come to this, she couldn't care less about anything else. Since no one else suited her, she quickly walked across the front courtyard of the attic.
This courtyard house is a single-entrance residence. After passing through the front courtyard, there are low houses built opposite each other on the left and right sides, which together surround the main building in the middle.
Dai Li didn't go into the main house. Instead, she went to the room on the right. The door was unlocked. She pushed it gently, and with a soft "click," Dai Li saw the layout inside.
Inside the room were four small tables, paintings on the walls, and a waist-high vase filled with vibrant flowers in the corner. A small wooden beaded curtain hung from the archway leading to the inner room. The air smelled fresh and pleasant, with a faint floral fragrance.
Without a doubt, this is a house that has been carefully decorated.
A profound silence spread; even the birdsong seemed to fade away upon entering. Dai Li gently closed the door and stepped inside again. The inner room was her sleeping quarters, and given the meticulous preparations outside, Dai Li guessed that there were likely clothes inside.
The chests for storing clothes were easy to find. Dai Li opened all the chests and found that they contained long robes in gray, black and blue, either straight or curved, with turbans and hats on the sides. The small chests also contained various belts and jade pendants, and even boots and socks were provided.
From top to bottom, nothing was missing, but all of them were men's clothing.
Dai Li furrowed her brows, hesitating whether to wear it.
These were indeed clean clothes, but once it was discovered that she was wearing men's clothing, it was almost an open declaration to others that she was someone else.
A distinguished guest has arrived at our home, and at this critical juncture, an unknown person suddenly appears. Arresting her would be too lenient.
Just as Dai Li hesitated, she suddenly heard a sound outside.
Footsteps and voices, not just a few, made it sound like a group of people were coming this way.
"My lord, the carriages and belongings have been arranged in the adjacent courtyard. This place and the spare wall were prepared for you by my elder brother. You and your entourage have come from afar, so please rest here. Servants will arrive shortly; please use them as you see fit, and if you find them inconvenient, you may remove them. My elder brother has arranged for his troops to send over a hundred sheep to the camp of the Xuanxiao cavalry you left outside the city, to ensure the soldiers have good food and rest. The banquet is scheduled for the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM). My elder brother and I will await your arrival in the main hall." The man paused, as if feeling it was insufficient, and added, "If there is anything lacking in our hospitality, I hope my lord will not hesitate to point it out."
His respectful manner bordered on obsequious, which chilled Dai Li's heart. It wasn't just the large number of people present, but also the way he addressed her.
Straight-hemmed and curved-hemmed long robes were the attire of the Qin and Han dynasties, during which a twenty-rank nobility system was implemented, with the highest rank being called Marquis. However, not all Marquises could be called Lord Marquis; only those Marquises with great merit, or those who rose to the position of Chancellor, could be called Lord Marquis.
It was at this moment that Dai Li understood why this meticulously decorated courtyard was completely empty.
Sweep and clean the house to welcome honored guests; unauthorized persons should give way.
As for whether or not servants are employed, it depends entirely on the other party's wishes. Judging from the fact that no servants were left in the house, Lord Jiang probably guessed that the distinguished guest would not employ his people.
"You've gone to so much trouble, Lord Jiang. Please thank him for me." The deep male voice spoke politely, with a hint of a smile that was hard to tell if it was genuine or not. "There's no need for servants. I've been away for a long time and I'm not used to having someone serving me lately."
Jiang Chongjiang nodded hastily. Looking at the smile on the face of the imposing man in front of him, he remained unmoved, only wanting to complete the task his brother had given him and leave as soon as possible.
This man is not Dong Zhou from Chang'an, who rose to the position of prime minister by manipulating power. He earned his highest rank step by step through genuine military achievements.
The northern regions were once turbulent, with barbarian tribes such as the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Wuhuan frequently invading from the south like a horde of demons. The northern part of Youzhou and Bingzhou was referred to as a "chicken rib" by powerful rulers.
It's like chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away. That place was once so barren that even the most greedy mosquitoes couldn't suck blood from it.
However, who could have predicted that such a harsh and cold place would actually raise the most ferocious tiger, whose jaws opened wide and chewed up and swallowed all the demons and monsters of the North. The robust warhorses became nourishment, further strengthening his Xuanxiao Cavalry and laying a solid foundation for his strong "acting" over Bingzhou a year ago.
It's no exaggeration to say that nowadays, most people in the northern region are surnamed Qin, including Qin Shaozong.
Jiang Chongjiang, who only wanted to live a life of pleasure, always kept his distance from such ambitious and ruthless individuals. So, after some pleasantries to conclude the conversation, Jiang Chongjiang left with his men.
Dai Li heard a group of footsteps fading away, but she didn't feel relieved at all, because a short while later, she heard voices outside again.
"Jiang Chonghai is quite shrewd; he's not stupid," someone laughed.
"His father's generation started out, how could Jiang Chonghai have become a leader in Nankang County without some ability?"
Dai Li was very nervous. These people were clearly going to enter the courtyard. Judging from their conversation, there were at least three of them. The one in the lead would definitely stay in the main house, and the other two would take up the side rooms on either side.
Someone will be coming into her room soon.
Dai Li looked down at the men's clothing in her hand. She had been hesitating just now, but now it was no longer her turn to choose.
She didn't have enough time to change her clothes.
After putting down her clothes, Dai Li looked at the open window on the other side of the room, thinking of sneaking out from there.
But as she took her first step, a hissing sound came from her waterlogged sandals, and Dai Li froze.
She thought to herself, "They probably can't hear us outside. She closed the door when she went in, and she was in the inner room while people were talking outside."
After mentally preparing herself, she continued walking towards the window.
One step, two steps, three steps...
The carved wooden window is getting closer.
Just as she was two steps away from the wooden window, the door outside suddenly opened. Dai Li's pupils narrowed slightly, and before she could even grab a moment to run, the deep male voice exploded in her ears like a thunderclap:
"Who's inside? Come out."
Dai Li felt as if she had fallen into an abyss.
She was discovered? Even though there was only a door separating them, how could the other person still detect someone inside...?
The person outside took a few steps, seemingly to confirm whether the person was in the outer room.
"If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink a penalty shot."
A bright flash flew in from outside, and as it passed the roller shutter, the force was so great that it cut off a string of beads and nailed them into the wall behind the small door.
The short dagger vibrated with a buzzing sound, and Dai Li, turning around at the sound, saw her own terrified eyes reflected in the gleaming blade.
A note from the author:
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Dengdeng is back! I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see in the comments section. Looking forward to it! [shrug]
Pre-order:
Transmigrated as a Demonic Concubine Who Brings Disaster to the Country
Xie Wangye inherited the small country from his father and spent his life on the battlefield, conquering various countries, pacifying the world, unifying the country, and finally creating a prosperous and peaceful era.
Before Xie Wangye could fully appreciate this prosperous era, he woke up to find that he had... become his ancestor.
Duke Jingheng, the fifth-generation descendant of Duke Jingtai, was a tyrannical and oppressive ruler. He was infatuated with the beautiful and charming Xia Ji, who emptied his harem, built palaces, neglected the state, and killed loyal officials, causing the already devastated Jing state to suffer further damage.
In the summer of the 35th year of Jianqing, the capital of Jing State was captured by Yi State. Duke Huan of Jing fled with his concubine Xia Ji and his eldest son. His eldest son died on the way to exile.
Listening to the sounds of war outside, Xie Wangye suddenly realized that he had arrived in the summer of the 35th year of Jianqing.
Well, the Jing Kingdom is currently experiencing a catastrophe that nearly led to its demise.
There happened to be a boy crying like a piglet next to him, who must be the Crown Prince. Xie Wangye picked him up with one hand and was about to call his subordinates to retreat and avoid the brunt of the attack.
A vixen? Ha! Women only hinder his ambitions. Not to mention that Xia Ji is a scourge to the country and its people, deserving of death. If he were to encounter her, he would surely cut her into eight pieces to appease the people's anger.
She's lucky now, let her fend for herself!
Before he even left the palace, Xie Wangye shuddered.
No, his branch is not the eldest son's bloodline. His great-great-grandfather was the second son of Duke Jingheng and the bewitching concubine Xia Ji.
The eldest son is born, but the second son has not yet been born.
If the demon queen dies, neither he, his father, his grandfather, nor anyone else will be born.
Xie Wangye: "..."
*
After surgeon Xia Fu suddenly dies on duty, she finds herself in an unfamiliar dynasty.
The palace was magnificent, filled with countless jewels and jade. The maids addressed her as "Madam" and treated her with utmost respect.
Good news: It seems I'm dressed as an upper-class nobleman who doesn't have to suffer.
Bad news: Fifteen minutes later, the army attacked the city, and it seemed the country was about to perish.
Before Xia Fu could decide where to escape, her palace gate was kicked open, and a menacing man with a dark face strode in, picked her up, and ran.
Xia Fu: "?"
...
#Ha, it's all for my past self#
#Oops, the code doesn't match, seems like I'm not a fellow traveler from another time#
#My father and mother are still acting strangely today#
#My father keeps asking me how he used to please my mother#
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